Canton officer put on paid leave

Wednesday

Police officer Bobby L. Cutts Jr. has been placed on paid
administrative leave for one week as the investigation into the
disappearance of the mother of his 2-year-old son continues.

Cutts also has been asked by the city to schedule a medical appointment so a
doctor can evaluate his emotional state before the officer’s work status is
determined, said safety director Bernard Hunt.

“We just felt we needed some time to step back and have a doctor make sure
he’s OK to come back to work,” Hunt said.

Jessie Marie Davis, 26, who is nine months pregnant and due to deliver July
3, was reported missing from her home on Friday morning. Her mother, Patty Porter, went to the home after not hearing from Davis since Wednesday night, the last time anyone is known to have spoken with her.

Porter found her 2-year-old grandson Blake home alone. The back door was
closed but unlocked; in Davis’ bedroom, the mattress was dislodged and the
comforter missing. Bleach had been poured on the carpet.

Cutts is also the father of the baby girl Davis is carrying. Cutts’
estranged wife, Kelly, apparently was aware of the relationship between her
husband and Davis. Cutts and his wife both have been interviewed by
investigators, who say they have no suspects in the case. FBI agents
searched the garage at Cutts’ home in Monday night.

Cutts is scheduled to return to work as a patrolman early next week, said
Police Chief Dean McKimm. However, depending on the results of the medical
assessment, Cutts could extend his leave by using sick time, vacation days
or unpaid leave, or he could be assigned to “off-street duty” in the office,
McKimm said.

Cutts, 30, was hired by the department in 2000. McKimm contacted the officer
Sunday “just to see how he was doing” and “to get a feel for his condition
at that time.”

With “the kind of stress this puts on somebody, you can’t expect them to
work in a high-stress position like a police officer in the street,” McKimm
said.

McKimm declined to comment on the brief conversation he had with Cutts on
Sunday.

“This is a very difficult and unfortunate situation for just about
everybody,” McKimm said. “First I want to express my sympathies to the
family of (Jessie Davis) and her friends and any other people who know her.

“At the same time, as a law enforcement officer and a law enforcement
agency, we have to be very careful not to jump to any kinds of conclusion
... and make sure just to let the facts lead us in our opinions and
conclusions,” he said.

McKimm said neither he nor the Canton Police Department are directly
assisting with the investigation.

“I’m going to keep an arm’s length from the investigation ... and I’m going
to allow the (Stark County Sheriff’s Department) to do the work they need to
do,” he said.

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